In Opening Week of NFL Playoffs There is No Place Like the Road

Oddsmakers Like Chances of Teams Playing Away From Friendly Confines in Wildcard Weekend

The NFL Playoffs kickoff tomorrow afternoon and you will probably be surprised to hear that oddsmakers have installed every home team as an underdog this week. Normally home field advantage is regarded as crucial in football where crowd noise, travel, and the playing surface provide an edge. Here is a look at this weeks games:

Atlanta Falcons -2 @ Arizona Cardinals

Falcons 11-5
Cardinals 9-7

Kurt Warner was one of the big stories of the year but his Cardinals hit a bump and struggled after clinching a playoff spot. Warner, a veteran quarterback who led the Rams to a Super Bowl in 1999, faces rookie quarterback Matt Ryan who has won praise for his leadership with the Falcons this season.

Time: 4:30 PM
Television: NBC
Announcers: Chris Collinsworth and Tiki Barber

Indianapolis Colts - 1/2 @ San Diego Chargers

Colts 12-4
Chargers 8-8

The Chargers host the Colts and are favored by a half of a point in Saturday Nights matchup that will start the AFC postseason. The Chargers enter the playoffs with a 4 game winning streak and become the first team to enter the playoffs with an 8-8 record since the Browns squeaked in winning the AFC Central in the mid-1980's. Peyton Manning has been on a tear of late shaking off his early season struggles and meets another tough quarterback in the Chargers Phillip Rivers. The Colts and Chargers met on November 23 on the same field with Adam Vinatieri providing heroics with a game winning field goal as time expired.

Time: 8 PM
Television: NBC
Announcers: Al Michaels and John Madden

Baltimore Ravens -3 @ Miami Dolphins

Ravens 11-5
Dolphins 11-5

Another rookie quarterback will be in the spotlight taken on a grizzled veteran in this matchup. Joe Flacco has done nothing but win since being named starting QB for th Ravens and faces grizzled veteran Chad Pennington on Sunday's afternoon battle on the gridiron. The Dolphins feature a dynamic running game led by Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams but will have to get through the touch defense of Baltimore to prevail in a game that will a smash-mouth throwback type game on Sunday. The Ravens were able to solve the Dolphins in their meeting at Miami in October winning the game 27-13.

Time: Sunday at 1 PM
Television: CBS
Announcers: Phil Sims and Jim Nantz

Philadelphia Eagles -3 @ Minnesota Vikings

Eagles 9-6-1
Vikings: 10-6

The final game of the weekend has Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles heading to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. The Eagles made the playoffs after having their backs to the wall but knocked off the Dallas Cowboys in dramatic fashion last week to obtain the final wild card spot in the NFC. The Vikings have a huge weapon in running back Adrian Peterson who the Eagles will have to stop if they want to head back to the city of brotherly love as victors.

Time: Sunday at 4:30
Television: FOX
Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman